1960s

What was Washington, D.C. like in the 1960s? Take a look at our great posts with stories, people, photos, and history about the District from the sixties.

1963 Map of D.C. Public Housing

Here is an interesting map we found on the D.C. public library’s website. It’s a map of the National Capital Housing Authority’s public housing in the District back in 1963. Source: Dig DC If you haven’t...

1967 Map of Unbuilt D.C. Highways

Why doesn't 395 cut through Washington, DC? This is the history of highways in DC.
31 March 1963 President John F. Kennedy and family watch Caroline Kennedy riding a horse named "Tex" at Camp David. "Tex" is wearing a blue and gold Moroccan saddle, a gift to President Kennedy from King Hassan II. Photograph includes: (L-R) Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr., First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and President Kennedy. Camp David, Maryland. Please credit "Robert Knudsen, White House/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston"

The Kennedys at Camp David

This photo was taken on March 31st, 1963. It shows the whole Kennedy clan happily spending some time together at Camp David. Caroline is on top of the horse, while little John holds his mother’s hand....
Looking eastward along the I-495 Capital Beltway in Virginia, east of Springfield, toward the Beltway bridge over the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac (RF&P) Railroad (today's CSX Railroad) in the distance. The highway was nearing completion but not yet open to traffic at this time. Notice that the roadway has three lanes, and that the roadway is paved with reinforced Portland cement concrete. When originally built, the Beltway in Virginia had six lanes (three each way) between I-95 at Springfield and across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and all the way through Maryland. This photo was taken in 1963 by the Virginia Department of Highways.

Origin of the Term “Beltway Bandit”

Before the days of Booz Allen, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, the term ‘Beltway Bandit’ was applied to the nefarious behavior of a common area criminal — a true bandit if you will. Application of the term...
Proposed highway in Arlington

Proposed Southside Freeway in Arlington

Here’s an interesting proposal for the Southside Freeway in Arlington, which never came to be. This graphic is from The Washington Post printed on October 7th, 1960. That date, by the way, is when the famous Kennedy/Nixon...
A menu for bottle liquors room service at the Willard Hotel. (back)

Old Time Willard Hotel Room Service Menu

How cool is this find? We dug up this great old menu for the Willard Hotel’s room service at Discover DC History. Click on them for more details. This appears to be from the 1960s? Maybe...
View of Rosslyn over the Key Bridge in 1964

1964 View of Rosslyn Skyline

This old photo is over 50 years old, showing what Rosslyn looked like from Georgetown in 1964. Source: Library of Congress
Capitol Building and a lot of cars parked in front of it in the 1960s

You Won’t See the Capitol Like This Ever Again

This photo of the Capitol Building from the 1960s is something you’ll never see again. The Capitol Dome under construction and a lot of cars parked out in front of it. Source: snipview.com
Aerial view of the Washington Navy Yard, looking east (top). This shot shows the Navy Yard’s borders: M Street on the north (left); the waterfront on the south; 11th street on the east, and 2nd street on the west (foreground). On the right bank of the river is Anacostia, September 1963. NHHC Photograph Collection, Navy Subject Files, Washington Navy Yard. (214).

Aerial Views of the Navy Yard in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s

This photo is an aerial view of the Navy Yard just a couple of months before President Kennedy was assassinated. Source: National Museum of the U.S. Navy Here’s another one from the 1970s. Source: National Museum...

Vietnam-Era Soldier’s Remains Found 30 years Later at 10th and E St. NW

Thanks to a tip from GoDCer John, we did some digging into the story of a soldier who disappeared from Ft. Myer in 1967. A few Google searches later and we came across the story of...
The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame memorial under construction in Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

President Kennedy’s Gravesite Under Construction in 1965

This is a fascinating old photo from October 6th, 1965 at Arlington National Cemetery. The construction site shows what would eventually become JFK’s gravesite, the Eternal Flame. Source: Library of Congress

Film Footage of D.C. After 1968 Riots

Here is some really sad and devastating film footage that we dug up showing the city after the riots of 1968.
Columbia Heights Tivoli Theater commercial

Photos of Columbia Heights After ’68 Riots

Here is a series of amazing photos that we came across on Flickr showing the 1968 riots in D.C. We’ve posted some stuff on the riots in the past, like this film clip, and these photos....

Unbuilt Three Sisters Bridge Across the Potomac

This is a story that is most likely unknown to the great majority of GoDCers. Long-time DC residents may remember the controversy over the bridge that was to be built, connecting Virginia and the District, right...
LBJ throws out first pitch

President Johnson and Opening Day 1967

We’re way late on this, but better late than never. This is a terrific photo shared with by old GoDC friend Phil. Thanks for sending this along Phil, and so sorry it took a little extra...

Argument Over Dog Ends in Fatal Shooting

Here’s a sad story that we dug up in The Washington Post from May 26th, 1969. An argument over a dog that bit a young boy ended in the fatal shooting of the son of the dog’s...
"Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia, 1958-63. Eero Saarinen, architect. Mobile lounge, control tower and terminal." All we need now is an airplane. Medium format negative by Balthazar Korab.

Beautiful 1960s Photos of Dulles Airport

Dulles Airport has an almost Mad Men like romanticism, even though these mobile lounges were a giant pain in the ass. The photo below is another angle in black and white of this photo we posted...
Proposed 1968 highways

1968 War Over D.C. Interstate Highways

As you all know, D.C. is one of the only cities (if not the lone city) without an interstate highway cutting through the heart of it. I-395 makes its way all the way to New York...
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